Winter has already arrived and your car is most probably going to take a major part of the beating of the cold weather condition. Poor road conditions add to the snow and frost and make the situation worse. Winter brings forth a variety of challenges to driving.
Vehicles have to cope with the adverse conditions through the winter months. This causes various inconveniences like car failures, breakdowns, extra expenditure for repairing and so on. However, following certain basic car maintenance procedures can ensure proper working of your car. Let’s take a look at some of these here.
Keep the Battery in Good Shape
As the temperature plummets, the condition of the car’s battery worsens. As a result, the car may break down leaving you stranded in the middle of the road. Therefore, it is highly crucial to keep the car’s battery working in proper condition. Check the battery thoroughly. You can conduct a load-test as well for this purpose.
Check whether the battery needs to be changed. Batteries aren’t extremely expensive. You can consider changing the battery yourself since the process is quite simple.
Check the Car Fluids
Cold weather can adversely affect the engine of your car. Motor oil can get thickened. Therefore, while buying oil, it is important to check whether it is of multi-viscosity. Oils of multi-viscosity can be used in winter. In addition to that, winter conditions can affect the coolant as well. Therefore, it is important to keep the coolant mixture in 1:1 ratio of antifreeze and water. This will keep the coolant from freezing even in extremely cold condition.
Additionally, it is quite likely that the windshield of your car will accumulate debris, snow etc. This will restrict clear vision and can cause accidents. Therefore, while filling washer fluid, ensure to invest in the one that would not freeze.
Check the Tyres
The roads are going to be extremely slippery in winter. As a result, the tires will have to undergo various challenging conditions during winter. A good amount of tread in the tyre will help in preventing accidents. Also, the minimum tread depth of any tyre should be 3 mm. Therefore, you should get the tread checked before setting out in winter.
To add to the safety, you can consider buying winter tyres. Snow chains can help in providing extra safety in snowy conditions. These will reduce the chances of skidding considerably. If you live in an area that gets occasional snow, you can consider getting a set of all-season tyres.
Replace the Wiper Blades
Even the most effective wiper blades have an expiry date. Wiper blades last for approximately six months after which they start losing their functionality. If you find that your car’s wiper blades are missing certain spots on the windshield, it is time to get them replaced.
Wiper blades are extremely vital elements during snow. You can stretch the lives of wiper blades by keeping them clean. You can use a rubber towel to clean the rubber edge of the blades. This will keep them in properly working condition. However, it is wise to replace the blades twice a year.
Check the Lights
One of the major hazards of driving in the winter is the fact that vision is affected. Available light is usually low and it gets dark quickly. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the lights of your car are in properly working condition for safe driving. Not only will you require the headlights to light the road for you to drive, but it will also be necessary for other vehicles and passengers on the road to notice your vehicle.
Clean the snow that gets accumulated on the headlights and check whether the bulbs are working. This will help in improving visibility considerably.
Clean the Car
Both the interior as well as the exterior of the car should be cleaned properly. The windows, personalised number plates, windshield and the body of the car should be thoroughly cleaned to prevent accumulation of snow. The nooks of the tyres should also be cleaned well.
A clean car will help in making your ride more comfortable and enjoyable. Therefore, you would need to clean out the interior of your car. Any dust or grime can become ingrained, thus affecting the functions of your car adversely.
These tips will help in maintaining your car in winter.
Kent Charlie
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